Malta & Gozo Supplement 2012

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Malta & Gozo

Your one-stop guideto all the latest news and developments in Malta & Gozo

All About

July 2012

S01 TB Malta & Gozo Supp 2012 Start_Layout 1 13/07/2012 10:13 Page 1

MALTA & GOZO Prestige Holidays offer a range of 4 and 5 star hotels in Malta and Gozo, from traditional

elegant hotels to the more modern beachfront hotels, something to suit every client.

Ask about all our latest offers to Malta including free nights and free room upgrades.

Prices from £667 at a 5 star hotel for a week in October.

We offer flexibility using scheduled flights, so can offer long stays or short breaks for

your clients.

Don’t forget you will receive Love to Shop vouchers for each booking made.

Prestige Holidays on 01425 480400 or www.prestigeholidays.co.uk/malta


Once the Mediterranean’s best kept secret, Malta is nowrenowned as the gem of the Mediterranean. We hope thatwhat you read in these pages inspires you and that you also

come away with a new knowledge and understanding of Malta andeverything it offers – from its proximity to the UK to its year-roundsunshine, array of outdoor activities, history and culture,award-winning restaurants and vibrant nightlife.

Just a three hour flight from the UK, Malta is warm and sunnythroughout the year, with hot dry summers and balmy winters.The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn are a particularlylovely time to visit with temperatures well into the 20s, warm seasand verdant landscapes.

All this sunshine makes the Maltese Islands perfect for outdoorpursuits, with Malta and her sister islands of Gozo and Caminoparticularly well-known for water sports, especially sailing and diving– with some of the clearest and calmest waters in the Mediterranean.On dry land, walking, trekking, rock climbing, cycling and horse ridingare also popular activities, especially on the greener island of Gozo.

Culture vultures can explore the UNESCO World Heritage City ofValletta, which is set to be Europe’s capital of culture in 2018 and ispacked with historic houses built at the time of the Knights of StJohn and the infamous St John’s Cathedral – home to a treasure ofpriceless artworks, including one of the most famous Caravaggiopaintings in the world or head north and explore the oldest examplesof free-standing monolithic temples anywhere in the world.

After a hard day’s activity or sightseeing, Malta’s many spa andboutique hotels, five-star resorts and converted farmhouses offer areal hide-away in which to relax and rejuvenate. Alternatively, ourMediterranean culture creates a great social atmosphere in theevenings from award-winning restaurants and café bars, to clubs andbars in which to dance away the night.

Malta is also host to a number of world-famous annual festivalsincluding the Isle of MTV festival that is headlined this June byWill.I.Am, the colourful Malta International Fireworks Festival, theHistoric and Classic Car Grand Prix, the cultural FestivalMediterranea and BirguFest, also, for the first time ever, theValletta International Baroque Festivalwill be happening in January 2013.

Malta is now extremely well servicedout of the UK with direct routes fromregional airports across the countrywith the island’s national carrier AirMalta as well as a number of low costairlines, making it incredibly easy toreach Malta’s glistening shores.

We look forward to welcoming youhere soon.

Alex Incorvaja,Director UK and Ireland,Malta Tourism Authority

All about Malta & Gozo3

Family holidays - 11

Published by

Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX

Tel: 020-7834 6661Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe

Written and researched by: Angela CroninEmail: [email protected]

Design/Layout: Genaro SantosPrinted by: Wyndeham Grange Limited

Cover Picture: Malta Tourist AuthorityISSN: 0956-2419

Culture club - 7

Niche holidays - 16

Get the lowdown - 19

Malta & Gozo

CONTENTSWhat’s new - 4



What’s newAlways popular with the UKmarket due to its stronghistorical connections, thesedays Malta is appealing to awide range ofholidaymakers – from theyounger, short-break marketto families and the morematurer market

The appeal of Malta, Gozo and Comino has gone from strength to strength over recent years, and its

success has to be put down to the effortsby the Malta Tourist Authority to diversifyits offering to holidaying Brits.

For many years, Malta had established areputation as a two-week, fly-and-flopdestination, but as the market has startedto mature and holidaymakers have begunto seek out different experiences – anddurations – from their holidays, Malta hasgrown to accommodate these differentdemands.

While it is still popular as a beachdestination, festivals, such as the MTV Isleof Malta, have made it an appealingshort-break destination to the youngermarket. Sunspot Tours national salesmanager Richard Greenaway said bookingsthrough agents to Malta and Gozocontinue to grow and this summer andnext winter the bookings to the islands arecurrently running 15% ahead of last year.

“This destination seems to haveexperienced a real resurgence of popularityamong consumers and a much betterunderstanding of the product with agents.

“Malta and Gozo has certainly comeback into fashion and the islands haveundergone a transformation with majorimprovements in infrastructure, theestablishment of fantastic new hotels anda general improvement and upgrading ofmany of the islands’ tourism facilities,” hesaid. “There is definitely a buzz about theplace and most of the travel agents whovisited Malta recently on the AdvantageConference were impressed and surprised

that Malta is so welcoming and offerscustomers the opportunity to discover atruly exciting holiday destination.

“The great news is that any negativeperceptions are slowly changing and we arefinding that many agents are keen to learnmore about the product and enthusiasticto sell after undertaking some trainingeither through the MTA website, or fromin-store training sessions that we areproviding,” he adds.

Online travel agents On the Beach haswitnessed a massive increase in sales ofholidays to Malta of more than 270% yearon year, outperforming many populardestinations across the Mediterranean,including Cyprus and Bulgaria. In particularthe all-inclusive bookings are up 111%year on year.

Prestige Holidays chairman andmanaging director John Dixon says thechoice of flights from the major UKairports as well as the regional ones haveplayed a big part in making the island moreappealing to Britons.

"There is a good choice of flights toMalta both from the London and regionalairports. Once you are there, the whole ofthe island is extremely accessible and iswell worth exploring. The historic city ofValletta, Malta's capital is a delight.

“I would also recommend clients traveldown to Marsaxlokk and Marsascala in theSouth on public transport to experience thelovely traditional towns en route. Maltaalso offers excellent value for money, evenin high season, visitors can enjoy a week'sstay in a five-star hotel from around £700.The year-round sunshine is also a bonus.”



So we catch up with the major operatorsto the island to find out what they aredoing with their Malta programmes for2012/13.

Belleair HolidaysThe Malta and Gozo specialist is offeringfree children’s places to families booking aholiday before 31 October 2012.

As part of the deal, one child goes freefor every two or more full-paying adults onselected flights and hotels. Children mustbe under 12 at time of travel.

Belleair has also launched its early-birdwinter 2012/13 programme, availableonline, on viewdata and on the phone.

The programme features the operator’smost popular properties with a number ofspecial deals and value-added offers. Earlybookers can take advantage of savings ofup to £402 when booking a stay of morethan 34 nights, at the Djar Ta Menzafarmhouses, a saving of £945 per couple.

National sales manager Emma Yorke saysflexibility is key to its early-birdprogramme. “We offer flights fromHeathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Belfast,Liverpool and Newcastle with Air Maltaand EasyJet and thanks to the frequency ofthe flights, we are able to match ouroffering with your client’s requirements.”

Prices lead in at £289 per person forseven nights’ bed and accommodation atthe Maritim Antonine including flights andentrance to a Malta attraction.

Sunspot ToursThe Malta specialist has launched its newMalta brochure, which contains 66

handpicked hotels and no singlesupplements on many of the hotelsfeatured.

Also included in some of the packagesbooked in the new programme is freeexecutive lounge passes at UK airports thatfeature this facility.

The latest additions to the programmeare the Sliema Chalet, Bay Street Hotel,Qawra Point Hotel, Porto Azzuro, andSunflower Hotel in Malta and the SanAndrea in Gozo.

The Sunspot Malta flight schedule nowfeatures flights from 17 regional andnational airports, which is designed to offerthe flexibility when it comes to bookingholidays of any duration. All holidays areprice match-protected and if agents areable to buy the same holiday cheaperelsewhere, then Sunspot pledges to matchthat price and give each customer on thebooking a £10 discount.

Air MaltaFlag carrier Air Malta is offering a lead-inprice of £59 including taxes on flights fromthe UK to Valletta.

The airline operates up to 26 scheduledservices a week from London andManchester, with summer weekly charterflights operating from Birmingham, Bristol,Cardiff, Exeter, Norwich and Newcastle.

Air Malta chief commercial officer PhilipSaunders said having a choice of airports isvital to the airline as it increasesaccessibility to the islands. “This summerwe are again offering a varied choice ofcharter services from regional UK airports.These services, which offer travellers the

opportunity to reduce travelling time andcosts, were made possible following thesupport received from the respectiveairports as well as from tour operators andtravel trade partners in the area.”

Saunders also said its agent partners playa key role in promoting the airline. “Travelagents and tour operators are a veryimportant group in our distributionnetwork. They contribute up to 30% of oursales. We have been working closely withour UK Travel Agents and Tour Operatorsand, in our new Air Malta CommercialOrganisation, we have introduced a newKey Accounts section to specifically takecare of their needs.”

Air Malta is developing a restructuringplan that contains 160 projects – andmany of them are aimed at bringingimproved products and services tocustomers and business partners.

Classic Collection Holidays The luxury specialist has seen an increasein late bookings for Malta for this summer,with sales up 18% on the previous year.

Vanda Bauer, head of marketing and PR,said the most popular properties are thePhoenicia, Hilton Malta, Le Meridien StJulian’s and The Westin Dragonara Resorton Malta with Ta Cenc and Kempinski HotelSan Lawrenz selling well on Gozo.

“We are delighted with these increasedsales to Malta. The Malta Tourist Board isone of the most proactive – constantly incontact with us looking for ways topromote the historical and cultural delightsof Malta. The island itself offers a lot,especially to the British who feel very ‘at

Fishing boats in Marsaxlokk Malta


What’s new


home’ on the island. We book a lot ofrepeat business back to the island and, ofcourse, the favoured Phoenicia enjoys thehighest repeat rate,” she added.

Prices for The Phoenicia Hotel lead in at£892 per person at the end of August.

CosmosCosmos Holidays and Avro Flights haveteamed up with Air Malta to increase itsrange of regional departures for summer2012. From 3 July to 23 October, newservices have been introduced fromCardiff, Norwich, Newcastle, Birmingham,Bristol and Exeter. The range of flights areavailable for seven and 14-night durationson both packages and flight-only.

Product manager Jody Clapham said:“We are making our Malta programmemore flexible and introducing flights tooffer the convenience of flying fromcustomers’ local airports. From winter2012/13, we will be offering daily flyingfrom both Gatwick and Manchester.”

She added that the operator’s highergraded, all-inclusive units continue to bethe best performers and the SeabankResort in Mellieha is Cosmos’s best-sellingproperty.t

Olympic HolidaysThe Mediterranean specialist has expandedits Malta programme over the last fiveyears on the back of the island diversifyingits offering to appeal to different markets.

According to Olympic Holidayscommercial director Photis Lambrianides,the operator's programme now features

winter, as well as summer holidays as thedestination offers a spread of holidays to awide cross-section of the market.

"In the last 10 years, Malta has cleverlycultivated its product so that it nowappeals to all types of holidaymaker –weekend breakers, families heading out fora week in the sun or the grey marketescaping from the British winter," he says."It's an excellent year-round destinationthat's as well suited to a short break or alonger stay in winter as it is to a seven or14-night sunshine package in thesummer.”

For its summer and winter Maltaprogramme, Olympic uses scheduled AirMalta and EasyJet flights, so clients are nottied into the one and two-week holidaysof the charter destinations.

“The strength of Malta's offer is that itdelivers a whole lot more than sun andsea. Once they've been, clients know thatMalta means great value and they keepgoing back year after year."

KuoniThe long-haul specialist has identifiedMalta as a growth destination, and isplanning to expand its programme to theislands.

A spokesman for Kuoni said: “WhileMalta is a niche destination for us as weonly offer three hotels in Malta and two inGozo. Having said that, Malta continues tosell well for us and we do see thisdestination as a growth area, with aconsistently good performance over thelast few years. We’re also working closely

with the Malta tourist board to grow ourproduct portfolio and promote Malta as abeautiful destination to visit,” she added.

“The five star Hilton Malta is a popularoption for our customers and iswell-known for its fantastic location,beside the Portomaso waterfront in thesmart fishing village of St Julian’s and only15 minutes from the capital Valletta.”

Prestige HolidaysThe upmarket specialist has seen anincrease in bookings for Malta after a slowstart to the year, according to chairmanand managing director John Dixon.

“We get a lot repeat visitors to thedestination, particularly to the CorinthiaPalace because of its central location andexcellent staff,” he said.

The operator has a number of moneysaving and added value offers availablethis summer including: children stay andeat free at the Hilton Malta.

Prestige Holidays is offering sevennights’ half-board departing in Septemberstaying at Hilton Malta with flights from£1,159 per adult and £249 for a childunder 12 years sharing a room.

Cruise Liner in Harbour

Malta is starting to make an impression inthe world of cruising as more cruiselinesadd the island as a port of call on theirMediterranean itineraries.Hapag-Lloyd’s new ship Europa 2, whichcomes into service in May 2013, willinclude Malta as its port for passengerturnarounds, as part of its seven-daycombinable Med cruises next year. Theship is calling into Malta altogether 6times in 2013.Prices lead in at £3,362 per person for aseven-night Med cruise from Monte Carloto Malta with stops in Corsica, PortoCervo and Porto Rotondo in Sardinia,Civitavecchia (for Rome) in Italy andCatania in Sicily.Silversea's Silver Cloud sets sail on 23rdSeptember 2012 for a 12-day voyagefrom Venice to Barcelona, calling in at,Zadar, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Siracusa, Valletta,Tunis, Trapani, Cagliari and Majorca withprices from £4,999. Valletta will alsofeature in Silver Wind’s nine-day voyagefrom Rome to Venice, departing on 30May 2013.

Cruise news


Heritage and culture can meandifferent things to many people,but whatever you are looking for

when it comes to an enlighteningexperience, a holiday in Malta iscertain to deliver.

From its rich and eventful history thatstretches back more than 7,000 years tothe modern-day 21st century culturalexperience that is the Isle of MTV festival,there are many varied sides to the Maltaexperience that are guaranteed to appealto all types of visitors.

The islands’ history is very well preservedfrom its golden Neolithic period through tothe Phoenicians, the Romans, theByzantines and the Arabs, which have allleft their traces on the islands that are stillevident today. Architecture through itsvaried forms throughout the ages plays abit part in telling the story of the islands.

Malta was an extension of Moorish andNorman Sicily until 1530, when the Orderof the Knights of St John settled on theislands, making it a key player in the culturalarena of 17th and 18th-century Europe.

Malta came under English rule in the1800s, and only became independent in1964, hence the strong connectionbetween the two countries.

Whether your clients are lookingfor a short burst of Maltese cultureover a weekend, or want to explore theisland’s history while they are on a sun,sea and sand break, here are somesuggestions on must-see places to visit andexperiences to have.

VallettaThe many cafes and restaurants dottedaround its cobbled streets and prettyharbour make Valletta, the capital of Malta,the perfect place to sit and watch theworld go by.

Valletta is also a UNESCO WorldHeritage City thanks to its impressive ringof walls and bastions and its spectacularexamples of Baroque architecture thatmake the city so unique.

The city was built by the Knights of StJohn after the Great Siege of 1565 and wasnamed after their victorious Grand Master,Jean Parisot de la Valette.

The centre of Valletta is Republic Street,from where the city’s many sights, shopsand side streets can be explored. The GrandMaster’s Palace, former residence of theGrand Masters of the Order of the Knightsof St John, is filled with opulent paintings,tapestries and armoury from the islands’history. The nearby St John’s Co-Cathedralcontains tapestries by Rubens and Poussinand paintings by Caravaggio.

MdinaThe old capital of Malta, Mdina is amedieval walled town situated on a hill inthe centre of the island. Known as theSilent City, the town is perched on a hilland has barely changed since itsconception, thought to be over 4,000 yearswhen the Phoenicians realised the strategicimportance of the site and fortified part ofthe town around 1000BC.

Untouched by the advances of time,

Sign of the times

With temples that predatethe Pyramids of Giza, it’seasy to see why Malta andits sister islands arepopular with travellerslooking for a history lessonor two


Vittoriosa Waterfront

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access by car is restricted to the Mdina, soit’s possible to roam around the narrow,cobbled streets without a care in theworld, taking in the town’s medieval andbaroque architecture, religious sights andquaint cafés and restaurants.

The Three CitiesVittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua are a setof three harbour towns intimately linkedby the massive line of fortification createdby the Knights of St John, called theCottonera Lines.

They are situated on the other side ofthe Grand Harbour from Valletta and theyactually predate the Maltese capital and

were the first home of the Knights of StJohn. Despite being heavily bombedduring World War II, this historical area stillretains the architectural charms of timesgone by. Visitors should head here duringholy days and feast days, which arecelebrated with great vigour, particularlythe Easter processions when large statuesof the ‘Risen Christ’ run through crowdfilled streets.

Hypogeum Discovered by accident in 1902 by buildersworking on a new housing development,the Hypogeum, which means‘underground’ in Greek, is thought to be

the only prehistoric underground temple inthe world, hewn from rock around3600BC.

Years later, the Hypogeum was expandedby tunnels that went even deeper into therock. Today a UNESCO World Heritage site,it is an archaeological wonder, filled withstunning chambers.

Ħaġar Qim and MnajdraĦaġar Qim is a megalithic temple complexthat dates back to 3600-3200BC and isbelieved to be one of the most religioussites in the world. Standing on a hilltopoverlooking the sea and the islet of Fiflajust outside the village of Qrendi, ĦaġarQim was excavated for the first time in1839 and a number of important artefactswere found, notably a decorated pillar altarand two table-altars.

The other historical site of greatsignificance is Mnajdra. Tucked in a hollowin the cliffs on Malta’s southern coastoverlooking the isle of Fifla, Mnajdra hasthree temples overlooking an ovalforecourt. The first and oldest temple is athree-apsed building and dates to theĠgantija phase (3600-3200 BC). The smallrubble walls are a modern reconstruction,while the most impressive of the Mnajdratemples is the third, with its largely intactfaçade and bench constructed in the earlyTarxien phase.

Ggantija Temples

Culture Club


While Valletta is busy bidding to be named European Capitalof Culture 2018, here is just a snapshot of the major culturalevents the islands host throughout the year.● Every year for a week in June, the islands host Malta Music

Week (www.maltamusicweek.com,), which includes theannual Isle of MTV. Over the years, this day-long festivalhas hosted a star-studded line-up of international artistssuch as Will.i.am and Nelly Furtado and is fast establishingitself as one of the top music festivals in theMediterranean.

● The annual Malta International Jazz Festival, which takesplace in July, offers a line-up of top international andMaltese artists that present an eclectic mix of jazz stylesfrom the contemporary musical scene.

● World-renowned soprano Maria Guleghina will beperforming at the Gozo Opera Season in October in thetitle role in Puccini's final three-act masterpiece Turandotat Teatru tal-Opra Aurora. Other performances will includeItalian soprano Daniela Dessi in Giacomo Puccini's

Madama Butterfly. Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, TeatruAstra Opera Chorus and other international singers will alsobe taking centre stage during Gozo’s Opera Season.

● October's BirguFest offers a varied programme ofentertainment and events emphasising the historic valueof the city of Birgu.

● The Festival Mediterranea in Gozo offers visitors thechance to immerse themselves in the mellow world ofGozo's autumn, and explore and live the cultural traditionof its 7000 years of history.

● Malta is also due to host the first edition of the VallettaInternational Baroque Festival from 9-26 January 2013 atValletta's Teatru Manoel Theatre. The festival is designed topromote and enhance public appreciation of the baroqueculture and will include performances by some of the mostprestigious international and local Baroque artists.

● May 2013 will see Malta host an exhibition on CalabrianMattia Preti (1613-1699) at Heritage Malta's NationalMuseum of Fine Arts.

Cultural festival line-up


MaltaGozo & Comino

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Culture ClubGozoJust a short ferry ride or seaplaneflight from Malta, Gozo is suited totravellers, who are keen to discover amore authentic way of life.

While the island’s dramaticlandscape makes it a popular hauntwith active traveller types, the islandalso has a lot to offer the culturevultures. The island’s main town ofVictoria – nicknamed by locals asRabat – is a fortress town known asthe Citadel. It is the site of the island’sBaroque Cathedral and a number ofmuseums and is well worth a visit.

Perhaps one of the most impressiveof claims to archaelogical fame arethe Ggantija Temples. One of theoldest freestanding structures in theworld, the Ggantija Temples predatethe Pyramids of Egypt by 1,000 yearsand offer a rare insight into how lifeon the islands was some 3,500 yearsago.

Escorted tours specialist Shearings offersan eight-day Malta’s MediterraneanSplendour tour from £789.This Grand Tourer holiday stays in StJulian’s, the coastal heartland of historicMalta. Two sightseeing excursions are

included, visiting the Blue Grotto,Marsaxlokk Market and a Three Cities tourof Vittoriosa, Corpicua and Senglea.Also included in the price are seven nightshalf board accommodation in a four-starhotel, return flights and transfers.

Sample product

Mnajdra Temple



Military re-enactmentsof historical paradestake place every Sunday

Sandy beaches, all-year-roundwarm climate, family-friendlyhotels and lots of attractions and

activities for the kids. These are all highup on the agenda of most parentswhen it comes to finding the perfectholiday destination for all the family.

Just a short, direct flight from theUK, with a plethora of flights from anumber of airlines offering a great dealof flexibility when it comes to regionaldepartures and durations, Malta cantick all those boxes, and offersomething else that many destinationscan’t. Oh, yes, would you believe thatin September last year, Malta wasofficially recognised as being “thesafest place on earth” by the UnitedNations’ University – Institute forEnvironment and Human Security(UNU-EHS).

In its World Risk Report, Malta islisted as number one alongside Qatar,having been surveyed along a variety ofcriteria including natural disasters,social vulnerability, climate change andthe countries’ coping capabilities todeal with disasters and crises.

And if this isn’t enough to convinceyour clients that Malta is the idealdestination for themselves and their

children, then don’t forget tomention that traditional familyvalues form the foundations ofMaltese society.

There is a wide range of familyaccommodation too; from hotels withkids’ clubs and facilities to spaciousfarmhouses and villas. So let’s find outhow Malta makes child’s play ofmaking sure the kids are alright.

Beaches While Malta isn’t well known for itsmiles and miles of golden sandybeaches like some of its Mediterraneancounterparts, it does have a number ofbeaches with shallow waters that areperfect for families.

On Malta, Mellieha Bay is one of theisland’s best sandy beaches withshallow waters, while over on Gozo,both Ramla Bay and Marsalforn areideal, with the latter being the island’slargest resort with good restaurantsand cafes nearby.

The Blue Lagoon on the island ofComino is a popular day trip forfamilies, with its shallow, crystallinewaters, smooth rocks and mysteriouscaves making it an exciting experiencefor the entire family.

When it comes to ashort-haul destination withthe family factor, Maltahits the spot every time


Family valuesFamily values

Street festivals run throughout thesummer season and are guaranteed

to keep the kids entertained

S03 TB Malta & Gozo Supp 2012 Family Activities_Layout 1 16/07/2012 15:13 Page 11


Mediterraneo Water ParkGuaranteed to be a hit with the kids, thepark in Bahar ic-Cagha has two sea lionshows and two dolphin shows every day.There is also a parrot display and a reptilehouse, and for those who want to get upclose with the dolphins and the sea lions,there is a daily interactive programme.

Splash and Fun ParkNext door to the Mediterraneo MarinePark, the Park features four water chutes,including a superbowl slide, and a high-tidewave pool. There’s also a lazy river and achildren’s splash land, as well as a play parkthat features model dinosaurs, bouncycastle, carousels, children’s train, rollercoaster and bumper cars.

The Popeye VillageSet in Anchor Bay, Mellieha, the PopeyeVillage is the original film set from RobinWilliams’s 1980 Popeye movie with an

entire village of wooden houses, someconverted into shops, bars and attractions.The Village also features a lido, watertrampolines, glassblowing workshops,summer boat trips and a Popeye-themedwinery.

MuseumsFor a change of scenery when you want toescape the heat, check out the Valletta ToyMuseum. Opened in 1998, the ToyMuseum houses a private collectionaccumulated over 30 years, which isdisplayed over three floors. The wide rangeof toys come from many countries, datingfrom 1950 onwards and are made from avariety of materials. The collection includesdolls, farmyard animals, trains, cars, modelplanes and boats and exhibits are generallydisplayed in glass cabinets.

Over on the island of Gozo, there is asmaller toy museum in the village ofXaghra. Other museums of interest includethe Museum of Archaeology in Valletta andthe Natural History Museum in VilhenaPalace in Mdina.

In Guardia! and Alarme!Re-enactmentsGuaranteed to be a hit with children arethe historical military parades at Fort StElmo in Valletta. Every Sunday, throughoutthe year, the Malta Tourism Authoritystages the re-enactment of the militaryparades in period costume with featuredmilitary drills and cannon shots. In Guardia!brings to life the military parades of thetimes of the Knights of St John whileAlarme! is a re-enactment of garrison lifeand battles between the French Napoleonictroops and the Maltese insurgents in thetwo-year Maltese uprising of 1798-1800.

The islands of Gozo and Comino have perfect clear water for a bit of snorkelling

Family Holidays

Theme parks and attractions specialistAttraction World currently has 16 tours inMalta. Its top five sellers are:1. North Island Hop on/off bus tour (£15adult, £9 child)2. Harbour Cruise (£17 adult, £14 child)3. Day Trip to Gozo (£59 adult, £22 child)4. Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk (£28 adult,£13 child)5. Day Trip to Fernandesl, Gozo andComino £54 adult, £31 child)

On tour

Prestige Holidays offers seven nights'bed and breakfast departing inSeptember 12 staying at The WestinDragonara Resort with flights andtransfers. Prices start at £996 per adultand £322 per child based on 2 adultsand 2 children sharing.

Belleair Holidays features sevennights' B&B at the Qawra Palace from£2296 per family based on two adultsand two children. Flights and transfersare included.

Sunspot Tours offers seven nights'half-board at the Paradise Bay Hotel for£1,840 for two adults and two children,departing on August 6. Prices includeflights and transfers.

Sample product


FestasA highlight of the summer calendarare the family-friendly festas thatare held throughout the season inevery town and villagecommemorating their patron saint.The religious and secular festivitiesare spread over five days andculminate on the weekend withbrass band marches in the streetsof the town/village and fireworksdisplays. The streets are decoratedwith life-size statues and flags.Stalls selling nougat tour all thefestas, setting up their stall in themain streets of the village.

Gozo and CominoA visit to Malta isn’t completewithout hopping on a boat todiscover the islands by sea; whetherthat’s a 30-minute boat ride to theBlue Grotto, a system of stunningcaves, or a half or day’s cruise to tothe smaller Maltese islands of Gozoand Comino to experience a tasteof the laid-back lifestyle.

The clear waters around Gozoand Comino make the islands theperfect spot for a bit of snorkelling.Also, the islands’ spectacularlandscapes are well suited tofamilies who like to explore on footor by bicycle.

Suggest clients look up CaptainMorgan Cruises. The companyoperates a fleet of 21 vesselsoffering a full programme of cruisesaround the Maltese Islands rangingfrom the classic Harbour Cruise tothe Underwater Safaris usingpurpose-built boats withunderwater observation keels.

All about Malta & Gozo

Family Holidays

13

CALLwww. .co.uk

Malta1. Alway remember to ask thequestion – no matter whereyour customer is going: “What

are you going to do when youget there?”2. Booking attractions andexcursions in the UK canliterally saving hundreds ofpounds off gate rates for afamily of four in someinstances.3. Avoid disappointment –many attractions around the

world have limited availability,so if your customers don’t bookin advance, the chances arethey will miss out as they willnot be able to book in resort.Allows your customers tobudget and avoid exchangerate risks. They can secure theirbooking with a small depositper person – the balance not

being due for payment untilshortly before the holiday.The attractions are often morecostly than the actual holidayand the commission to beearnt can be substantial! Sonot only do you improve yourbottom line profit, but you alsoimprove your customer service– it's a win/win situation.

Top tips for selling attractionsby Gail Dunwoodie, head of product and marketing, Attraction World




Time toget activeFrom rock climbing duringthe day to fine dining inthe evening, Malta hassomething for every typeof visitor

Over recent years, the Malta TouristAuthority has put a lot of effortinto diversifying the product

offering of the islands, which hasbroadened its appeal to the short-breakmarket.

Its location in the Mediterranean and itslandscape make it a popular destinationfor people who love the great outdoors,while its nightlife, spas and high-endrestaurants have turned the island into amust-visit place for holidaymakers wholove a bit of luxury.

Here is a round-up of some of theactivities visitors can get up to on theisland.

DivingFrom absolute beginners to accomplisheddivers, Malta packs a punch when it comesto the underwater world.

There are a number of diving schools onthe island, and there are a plethora ofdiving sites to explore. From shallow reefdive sites to wreck dives and some newlyscuttled boats, there’s diving andsnorkelling sites for people of all abilities.

Diving is becoming such a popularactivity for visitors to the island that theMalta Tourism Authority has recentlybecome a British Sub Aqua Club travelpartner, offering BSAC membersexclusive deals on diving holidays to the

Maltese Islands. Walking/cyclingThe landscape and terrain of Malta, Gozoand Comino have proved popular withvisitors who are enthusiastic hikers andcyclists.

While all three islands offer a widerange of itineraries, the rocky coastline ofGozo, in particular, provides an interestinglandscape for hikers with its hiddencreeks, coves and tiny beaches. Whileinland, walking paths take hikers throughterraced and stone-walled fields alongnarrow gorge-like valleys, which providethe backdrop for the island’s ancienthilltop villages.

Gozo is also a bit of a cyclist’s paradiseas it’s small enough to cycle in a day, theisland offers different routes for all levelsand it’s a great way to explore hiddenbays, archaeological sites and take in theisland’s cliff scenery.

Deep-water soloingWhen it comes to extreme sports, deep-water soloing has to be high up in thesector’s top 10. Deep-water soloing iseffectively rock climbing just wearing aswimsuit and climbing shoes on. After ahard climb to the top of the cliff, thedeep-water soloists then dive into thecool turquoise water below.

According to the current Malta rock


S04 TB Malta & Gozo Supp 2012 Nice & Niche_Layout 1 16/07/2012 14:51 Page 16

climbing guidebook, there are 21 areas on the islands of Maltaand Gozo, with 70% on Malta and 30% on Gozo.

ClimbingThe rocky coastline of the Maltese islands make theMediterranean holiday spot a popular destination with rockclimbers as its crags are easily accessible and uncrowded, and theweather conditions lend themselves well to this pastime. Theislands boast more than 1,300 established rock climbing routes aswell as plenty of virgin rock.

AbseilingSo there’s rock-climbing, deep-water soloing and just sedate oldwalking but a destination such as Malta with its rocky coastline isa big hit with abseilers.

With its long stretches of cliffs – some falling more than 100minto the sea – the islands are a great choice for those with aninterest in this activity, which is growing in popularity.

GolfIt’s not a destination that many travelling golf enthusiasts wouldnecessarily consider, but the Royal Malta Golf Club’s 18-holecourse in the centre of the island is the perfect place to enjoy around or two. The clubhouse oozes British charm and tradition,and boasts HRH Prince Philip as a member. The Royal Malta GolfClub was founded in 1888 by Lieutenant-General Sir HenryD’Oyley Torrens from the Royal Welsh Fusiliers who wasstationed there.

Health and wellbeingWith the demands of modern-day life putting increasing pressureon people, many Britons are looking for a bit more than just well-deserved R&R on holiday.

Destinations that have five-star hotels with spas that specialisein health and wellbeing treatments for the mind, body and soulare often high on the checklist for many holidaymakers, andMalta has this in abundance.

Malta has 12 luxury hotels in Malta and two on the island ofGozo – Hotel Ta’Cenc and Kempinski Hotel, San Lawrenz – that

offer state-of-the-art spas, offering visitors special all-inclusivepackages.

The Kempinski Hotel, San Lawrenz has an ayurvedic andmarine care centre, which specialises in recommendations forlifestyle and nutrition. It also has a day spa that offers all thehealth and beauty treatments from manicures and pedicures tofull-body massages.

The other spas at the luxury hotels offer a wide range oftreatments including the latest state-of-the-art therapeutic bath,dermalife hydrofusion skin and body care system, algae bodywraps, balneo baths and peelings with marine products, Vichyshowers and massages in the hydrojet tub.

Unique classical and holistically-based therapies such asThalasso therapies, the OKKAIDO (herbal steam bath), Reiki,music and art therapy and stress and group management arealso available.

Malta has also dipped its toe into the world of medicaltourism with its state-of-the-art facilities catering for 50,000

medical tourists annually. Treatments range from cosmeticsurgery to dentistry, orthopaedic surgery, eye surgery,physiotherapy and rehab.

SailingMalta's location at the heart of the Mediterranean also makes itthe ultimate yachting hub, with a number of harbours able toaccommodate anything from small yachts to the biggest superyachts in the Mediterranean.

Yacht chartering is easy and The Malta Sailing Academy and theRoyal Malta Yacht Club also offer advice and information onsailing in Maltese waters. Yachts of all sizes are available, from29ft to 64ft and more, and prices start from £204, including fuel.

The island also features highly on the sailing world’s annualcalendar of events, with the the Rolex Middle Sea Race inOctober starting and ending in Malta.

GastronomyMalta’s small size means the islands do not lend themselves tomass production of food, so foodies can be rest assured that theingredients in most of the restaurants are home-grown and ofgood quality.

The fine dining restaurants on the island, of which there aremany, specialise in Mediterranean dishes that receive a Maltese

There are a number of ship wrecks around theseas of Malta that make the island a populardestination with divers of all abilities

Niche holidays


The five-star Grand Hotel Excelsior in Valletta has rolled outa summer 2012 offer for visitors to the island.The Luxury Malta package starts at £111 per night and isbased on stays of seven nights and includes bed and breakfastand a chauffeur-driven tour of the north of Malta, taking inMosta, Mdina and St Paul’s Catacombs, free use of pools,Whirlpool and gym. The Luxury Malta Package can be bookedonline at excelsior.com.mt/specialoffers/luxury-malta-breaks.

Phoenicia Hotel in Valletta is offering winter rates from lessthan £50 per person for advance internet bookings. The offeris based on the City Breaks Advance Purchase for a minimumthree-night stay in November.

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at twist. The cuisine is also stronglyinfluenced by neighbouring Italy, Sicily,Lebanon and North Africa. Specialitiesinclude excellent olive oil, honey andcheese and an array of Mediterraneanvegetables, meats and fish doused inthe delicious oil and the local cheese isakin to a religion.

The islanders also produce their ownwine, with two indigenous grapes andfive wineries producing a variety of winesto complement the Maltese dishes. Agood time to sample Malta’s deliciouswines is at the Delicata Wine Festival,held in August and September, in Vallettaand Gozo.

World-renowned chefs such as KevinBonello, the executive chef at the award-winning De Mondion restaurant, Joe Vellafrom The Hilton and George Borg, chef at

Il-Kartell Restaurant in Gozo, have allinfluenced Malta’s fine dining scene,setting a standard that compares wellwith any of the top European restaurantsand offering a serious attraction forfoodies to Malta.

The national dish is fenek, a rabbit dish,while seafood is always popular, alongwith pastizz, a savoury puff pastry filledwith ricotta cheese.

EcotourismResponsible tourism is becoming anincreasingly important concept totravellers as one of the many things toconsider when booking their holiday.Malta has demonstrated its commitmentto ecotourism with the unveiling of itsEco-Gozo concept, which is a vision forthe future of the island of Gozo.

The target for the future is to makeGozo a sustainable tourism destination by2020. Eco-Gozo is an initiative with a clear

vision – to transform Gozo and Gozitansociety into a sustainable reality – througheducation, economic development andsocial progress. The aim of Eco Gozo is toprotect the Gozitan lifestyle, the island’senvironment, resources, culture andidentity, and see that all these play asignificant part in attracting more visitorsand investors to the island.

Gozo was chosen as one of the top tensustainable destinations in SouthernEurope by Quality Coast 2011 – SouthernEuropean Top 50 Awards. The village ofGharb in Gozo was the local winner of thefifth edition of the European Destinationsof Excellence (EDEN) Award.

The Malta Tourism Authority hasteamed up with Responsibletravel.com tolaunch the Insiders’ Travel Guide to Gozo,a dedicated online responsible tourismtravel guide to Gozo.

The guide is an online micrositededicated to green, responsible and ruralthings to see and do in Gozo. It features 25detailed pages on Gozo including maps,photos, podcasts, videos and editorial. Italso includes travel secrets from localpeople in the form of podcast interviews.

NightlifeThe annual Isle of MTV festival hasplayed a big role in raising the profile of

the island as a destination that manyyoung people in the past would nothave considered as a place to party.

Malta’s nightlife is increasinglyattracting a wider crowd from acrossEurope. The liveliest areas for partyingare Paceville and Bugibba which arefilled with indoor and outdoor clubsand high-end venues. With Malta’swarm climate, beach parties are alsovery popular during the hot summernights.

Gianpula, for example, is one ofMalta’s most famous and popular open-air night clubs and the setting forinternational DJs from Tiesto to ErickMorillo.

Club Numero Uno, located in themiddle of Ta’ Qali crafts village isanother great outdoor club, with acapacity for more than 4,000 peopleand boasts idyllic surroundings as wellas a large floor area. La Grotta on Gozois another popular outdoor venue.

While some may choose to party onuntil the early hours, those that chooseto call it a day before midnight will beable to get involved in many of theactivities on the island during thedaytime hours, such as diving, cycling,walking and trekking, rock climbing anda wide range of water sports.

The dramatic landscape of Malta and Gozomake the islands a hit with hikers

Niche holidays


Walking and cycling specialistHeadwater Holidays operates two toursto Gozo. The six-night Highlights ofGozo Cycling holiday leads in at £827per person and includes stays at luxuryhotels along the way with gentle,scenic cycling. Meanwhile, the seven-night independent walking Calypso'sIsle holiday leads in at £727 andincludes accommodation at the five-star Ta Cenc Hotel.

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Getting there: There are frequent dailyflights to Malta, so Britons keen to visit theMediterranean island have plenty of choice.Flights are direct from the UK and onlytake three hours making it a greatdestination for both weekend breaks andlonger stays. Malta International Airport isjust 20 minutes from Valletta. Who flies there? Air Malta flies fromHeathrow, Gatwick, Manchester,Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter,Newcastle and Norwich; EasyJet flies fromBelfast, Gatwick, Liverpool, Manchester andNewcastle; Ryanair flies from Birmingham,Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, LeedsBradford, Stansted and Luton; and Bmibabyflies from East Midlands.Time difference: GMT +1.Do I need a visa? Visas are not required byanyone holding a passport from theEuropean Union. What’s the weather like? It’s a typicalMediterranean climate with hot, drysummers and mild, humid winters.Temperature averages from 15C fromNovember to April, and 33C from May toOctober.Population: 400,000Currency: EuroDo I need to tip? The same customs apply in Malta as they do in the UK as regards

tipping, so if you want to show yourappreciation at a hotel or restaurant forgood service, then you can give a tip of10% of the bill.Getting around: The public transportsystem is cheap, efficient and easy to use,however car hire is also a straightforwardoptions as the Maltese drive on the left.Gozo can be reached by a 25-minute ferrytrip from Malta’s northernmost tip or ashort flight on the seaplane service fromMalta International Airport. Comino can bereached by regular boat service from MarfaHarbour in Malta and Mgarr Harbour inGozo between mid-March and mid-November

A quick and easy guide tothe travel essentials forMalta


Some 1.3 million tourists visited Malta in2010 and 415,120 of those were fromthe UK.The largest proportion of visitors fall underthe 45-64 age bracket (457,760) closelyfollowed by the 25-44 bracket (456,305)in 2010. Visitors from the 0-24 bracket iscontinuing to be a bigger factor, makingup around a fifth of the total visitorsThe average length of stay was 8.3 nightsin 2010.

Did you know?

Malta has the second best bathingwaters in the European Union,according to a Bathing Water Reportpublished by the European Commission.The report says that 97.7% of Malta’sbathing waters were of “excellent”quality – the best possible qualityunder the EU’s bathing waterdirective.

Did you know?

1. Spending a night or two in a rural farmhouse in Gozo to find out what life is like inthe slow lane.2. Strolling around the winding alleys and cobbled streets of the charming Mdina, theancient capital of Malta3. Cruising over to the small, but beautiful island of Comino, home to the Blue Lagoon.4. Following in the footsteps of the Hollywood greats and taking a tour of the manyfilm locations on the island.5. Dining out at Valletta Harbour during the day and letting your hair down at one ofthe night spots in St Julian’s.

Don’t leave Malta without…

Get the lowdownBlue Lagoon, Comino

Valletta by night


L I V E T H E G R A N D L I F EA Member of

o live a life that is full of grand experiences and grand sensations. To travel, to explore and discover new influences.

Set in a tranquil area near the Historical Capital,Valletta and enjoying stunning views of the Marsamxett Harbour, the Grand Hotel Excelsior will fill your senses with the pleasures of fine hospitality.

Rates starting from £53 per person per night for double room occupancy including breakfast. To experience the Grand life, call us on (+356) 2125 0520 or book directly on www.excelsior.com.mt now.

*Terms and Conditions apply

at the Grand Hotel ExcelsiorLive the Grand Life in Malta

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Documents

Malta & Gozo Supplement 2012